City of Sacramento Police Department

MEDIA ADVISORY/PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release No. 20110817-139Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Police Release ID of Man Who Shot at Officer

The Sacramento Police Department has positively identified the man who shot at a Police Officer Tuesday afternoon as, 20-year-old Devonte Fields. Fields is on felony probation and is a validated gang member.

On August 16, 2011, at approximately 3:02 p.m., a Sacramento Police Officer was in the area of Valley Hi Drive/Bamford Drive when he observed a male subject who matched the description of a wanted robbery suspect. The officer followed the subject and contacted him near a business. The suspect ran from the officer who chased after him. The suspect ran into a nearby apartment complex. As the suspect was running, he turned around, pointed a gun at the officer and fired a gun at him. The officer was not hit. The officer did not return fire.

The suspect continued to run through the complex and eventually out of sight of the officer. Officers believed the suspect was hiding somewhere in the apartment complex and immediately established a perimeter around it. Officers from throughout the city, as well as law enforcement agencies from surrounding jurisdictions, responded to assist. The Sacramento Police Department SWAT Team and Hostage Negotiators also responded to assist with the search for the suspect.

As the SWAT team entered the apartment complex and prepared to begin their search, the suspect, another adult male and two children walked out of an apartment. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. It was determined he was the man who shot at the officer. The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Devonte Fields. He was arrested for attempted murder and booked into the Sacramento County Jail. A gun was recovered at the scene and it is believed to be the gun used by Fields to shoot at the officer. Further investigation revealed that Devonte Fields was not the robbery suspect for which the officer initiated the contact.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.